Around the world, September 2015
Dino Tzanetos and his wife, Mata, serve in Athens. (PHOTO PROVIDED)ATHENS — The recent Greek debt crisis pushed the unemployment rate within the Evrou Church of Christ — already at 85 percent — to nearly 96 percent, minister Dino Tzanetos said. The few church members with paying jobs could not receive money from their employers until the country’s banks reopened.
Nonetheless, church members proclaimed “God is good,” Tzanetos said. That was the theme of a Vacation Bible School hosted by church members from Nashville, Tenn. Fifty-one children participated.
“It was a successful VBS, perhaps the best ever,” Tzanetos said.
INDIA
VIJAYAWADA — The name of this southern Indian city means “place of victory.” That’s Mark Bryson’s dream for this city of 1 million souls.
Bryson, minister of missions for the McDermott Road Church of Christ in Plano, Texas, led a one-day seminar for 70 men from various religious groups. They heard Bible lessons and got to know each other.
“We all appreciate the work which was done through brother Mark to convert the denominational pastors in our area,” said Prabhu Kumar, director of World English Institute India. “I hope that we can see good results in the future.”
Prabhu Kumar introduces Mark Bryson. (PHOTO PROVIDED) south africa
BENONI — The Benoni Church of Christ is on a mission — to cover children in squatter camps with blankets and Christ’s love.
Operation: Anti-Freeze began a few years ago when church members recognized the children’s need for winter-weather necessities.
With assistance from a Kentucky church, the congregation collected money, blankets and jackets for South Africa’s winter, which runs from May to July. Temperatures can dip into the mid-30s Fahrenheit.
“In addition to the blankets and jackets, we handed out to each child a knitted beanie, gloves, a pair of warm socks, a couple of oranges … and small cartons of orange juice,” said Jerry Hogg, missionary and teacher at Southern Africa Bible College. “It was a good day for these kids.”
UKRAINE 
Grischuk
STANYTSIA LUHANSKA — Dmitry Grischuk recently visited this settlement in eastern Ukraine, near the conflict zone between his country’s military and pro-Russian separatists, to distribute aid though the church-supported Let’s Love ministry.
“Every night this town is being shelled. People here are in fear and despair,” said Grischuk, a minister and teacher at the Ukraine Bible Institute, which relocated from eastern Ukraine to the capital, Kiev, as the conflict intensified.
Grischuk, working with military chaplains, distributed 200 bags of food to the elderly and disabled in the town.
